The Disappearance of Haneul Oh

Source: fbi.gov

Haneul Oh has been missing since December 2021. The then-21-year-old was last seen in Davie, Florida. Haneul is originally from South Korea but was living in Florida at the time of her disappearance. Reports state that she was both studying and working at a study abroad institute. 

Haneul was reported missing on January 28th, 2022 - her 22nd birthday. Throughout the investigation, it was determined that the last confirmed sighting of Haneul occurred over a month earlier, on December 20th, 2021. Further details about the events leading up to her disappearance are unknown, but investigators have said that she is missing under suspicious circumstances. 

The FBI got involved in the search for Haneul early into the investigation. It was then reported that Haneul might be traveling in a gray 2005 Toyota Corolla with the New Jersey license plate number L20NAZ. She reportedly has ties to both New Jersey and Baltimore, Maryland - but the extent of those connections has not been disclosed. 

Source: fbi.gov

Years have passed since Haneul vanished, and no updates have been provided on her case. The FBI remains involved in the investigation. If you have any information that could lead to Haneul's whereabouts, please contact the Davie Police Department 954-693-8200 or submit a tip with the FBI online. 

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Sources:
Charley Project
FBI
Investigation Discovery
Korean article
Websleuths

 

The Disappearance of Sacoya Cooper

 

Sacoya Cooper has been missing since August 31st, 2021. The then-33-year-old was last seen driving away from her home in Columbus, Ohio. Sacoya left her residence that evening to go to a nearby corner store. She never returned and has never been seen or heard from again.

Sacoya lived with her partner, Richard Harris, in the Cremeans Park area at the time of her disappearance. According to Harris, Sacoya left their home at 11:30 PM to buy bottled water from the corner store. By all accounts, this was supposed to be a quick errand - so after hours passed without any sign of Sacoya, Harris began to call her phone several times. The calls went unanswered; the phone appeared to be turned off. 

The following morning, Harris contacted Sacoya's friend, Bre Belcher, and asked if she had spent the night at her place. When Bre replied that she also had not seen or heard from Sacoya, the two decided to contact Columbus Police to report Sacoya missing. 

Weeks passed without any sign of Sacoya. Then, in mid-October, the black 2009 Ford Fusion that she was last seen driving was found abandoned in the west side of Columbus. The car did not have its original license plate; it had been replaced with a stolen one. Investigators later announced that, while processing the car, they found evidence that led them to believe that Sacoya was a victim of foul play. Due to the ongoing investigation, detectives have not shared what, exactly, was found.

A year after Sacoya's disappearance, the FBI joined the investigation. A monetary reward of at least $10,000 was offered in exchange for information that could solve Sacoya's case. Investigators noted that they believe there are "witnesses in the community" who know what happened to Sacoya. 

Years have passed since the reward was announced, but Sacoya still remains missing. She is described as a black transgender woman with brown hair and brown eyes, approximately 5'5" and 145 pounds. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing black braids and a black and white summer dress.

If you have any information that could help solve the disappearance of Sacoya Cooper, please submit a tip. 

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Sources:
10 TV
Charley Project
The Columbus Dispatch, (2)

FBI
NBC News

The Disappearance and Death of Angela Burris

Source: Shelby Star

Angela Burris has been missing since April 19th, 2021. The then-36-year-old woman left her residence in Kings Mountain, North Carolina during the early evening. Shortly after, Angela was seen getting into a black sedan driven by an unidentified male. She never returned home and has never been seen or heard from again.

At the time of her disappearance, Angela lived on Lake Montonia Road with family members. Angela's aunt was the last person to see her at the residence before she vanished. Her aunt recalls seeing her sitting outside the home with a duffel bag and a teddy bear, as if she was waiting for someone to come pick her up.

It appears nobody in the family actually saw Angela leaving the residence. However, a family friend reported seeing her getting into the black sedan near the residence around 5:00 PM. The driver of the vehicle is described as a black man with black hair and a goatee. It appears that nobody in Angela's family knew this man, and he has still never been identified.

Angela's family reported her missing on April 28th, 2021. It was noted that she had disappeared for short periods before in the past, but it was unusual for her to stay out of touch with family, especially her daughter. Detectives followed leads when the case was first opened but were unable to find anything substantial. Months turned into years without any sign of Angela as her disappearance became a cold case. 

Over three years after Angela disappearance, in August 2024, it was reported that new leads had prompted a large-scale search for her in a wooded area of Gaston County. Investigators stated that the leads were brought on by advances in technology that allowed them to narrow down a "more fine point of a last known contact area for [Angela]", which is what lead the investigators to that area.

The search was conducted by over 60 people from several different law enforcement agencies. Over 20 acres of land was scoured, but nothing was found. Despite this, investigators stated that they have not given up on their search for Angela and are now seeking more leads in the case.

Angela's family members have also not given up hope that they will find answers. If you have any information that could lead to Angela's whereabouts, please contact the Kings Mountain Police Department at 704-734-0444.

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UPDATE (March 2025): Angela's remains have been found and identified.

In April 2022 - about a year after Angela vanished - human remains were found in Gastonia. It took 3 years for the remains to be identified, but on February 25th, 2025, officials confirmed that the remains were that of Angela Burris.

An investigation into her death is ongoing.

Sources:
Charley Project
Queen City News
Shelby Star
WCNC Charlotte

The Disappearance of Bethany Ruby Bower

Source: Facebook

Bethany Ruby Bower has been missing since late July 2021. The then-38-year-old woman was last seen in Newton, Illinois. Prior to her disappearance, Bethany was active on social media. She last posted on Facebook on July 28th, 2021. After that, Bethany seemingly fell out-of-touch. She was reported missing on July 31st, 2021.

Bethany reportedly left the Newton residence she shared with her sister, Barb Lingafelter, on July 24th, 2021. She left the home with several of her personal belongings, including her dog. Two days later, Bethany's dog and a purse containing her credit cards turned back up on the residence's front porch. 

Bethany continued to be active on Facebook until July 28th. Her final Facebook post was a picture containing a quote that reads, "You will continue to suffer if you have an emotional reaction to everything that is said to you. True power is sitting back and observing everything with logic. True power is restraint. If words control you that means everyone can control you. Breathe and allow things to pass."

Source: Facebook

What happened after Bethany made that Facebook post remains a mystery to this day. Her sudden absence was worrisome to Bethany's family members, especially her sister, Barb. Not only were Bethany and Barb living together at the time of Bethany's disappearance, the two sisters were also taking care of a relative at a separate address. Barb was reportedly at the relative's address on the night of Bethany's disappearance.

In 2023, Barb told reporters that Bethany had gone away for a "day or two" before in the past, but "not without alerting her sister to where she would be and for how long." As such, Barb and other family members were immediately worried Bethany fell out-of-touch. They believe that foul play is responsible for her disappearance.

Searches have been conducted and leads have been followed, but Bethany still remains missing. Very little information about the investigation has been revealed Another 2023 report indicates that people have provided information about what might have happened to Bethany, but it was all hearsay. Details about said theory have not been publicly shared. At the time of the reporting, those leads were still being investigated.

Bethany remains missing today. Both the Newton County Police and the Jasper County Sheriff's Office are involved in the investigation. If you have any information that could help solve Bethany's case, please contact Newton authorities at 618-783-8478 or Jasper authorities at 618-783-3057. 

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Sources:
Bethany's Facebook
Charley Project
My Wabash Valley
WCIA.com

The Disappearance of Sarah Lindsey Rozniewski

Source: Attempt to Locate on Facebook

Sarah Lindsey Rozniewski (also known as Sarah Cooper) has been missing since the spring of 2021. The then-31-year-old lived in St. Martin, Mississippi at the time of her disappearance. Sarah was reported missing to the Biloxi Police Department by a friend on March 21st, 2022. 

The friend who filed the missing person's report told police that it had been several months since any friends or family had heard from Sarah. Due to this, an exact timeline leading up to her disappearance is unknown. However, the investigation did reveal that Sarah's last bank activity occurred on May 10th, 2021 - nearly ten months before she was reported missing. 

According to MissingSippi.org, the last known sighting of Sarah occurred weeks later, on May 31st, 2021, at her apartment in St. Martin. Details about that last sighting have not been disclosed. Sarah has never been seen or heard from again.

Various comments online indicate that Sarah's sister and friends attempted to report her missing many times over the months before the police finally agreed to open her case. 

Source: Facebook

Details about the status of the investigation have been kept under wraps. The Biloxi Police were originally in charged investigating Sarah's disappearance, but it has since been passed to the Jackson County Sheriff's Department. 

Sarah's loved ones are devastated by her disappearance and are still searching for answers. If you have any information that could lead to her whereabouts, please contact the Jackson County Sheriff's Police Department at (228)769-3024 or submit a tip online.

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Sources:
Biloxi PD Facebook post
Magnolia State Live
MissingSippi
Mississippi Coast Crimestoppers

The Disappearance of Kit Mora

 

Kit Mora has been missing since November 2021. The then-16-year-old teen was reported missing to authorities in Omak, Washington during April 2022. However, Kit's family and friends stated that they have not seen or heard from Kit since November 2021. 

Kit is indigenous and identifies as nonbinary. They were adopted by a family from Yakima at the age of 4 after Kit's mother, Lorie Sue Mora, lost custody due to reports of abuse and neglect. Years later, when Kit was 16, they reconnected with their biological mother. In June 2021, Kit decided to move in with Lori Sue and their biological siblings. 

According to reports, Kit's loved ones soon became concerned with the way Lori Sue treated them. A 2023 report from The Cooper Point Journal states that "Kit reached out to their friends about how Lorie Sue wasn’t respecting their transgender identity or sexual orientation." Various other reports state that Kit became the sole caretaker to their younger siblings, leading some to question if Lori Sue had invited Kit to move in so they could care for the kids rather than reconnect as a family unit. 

Additionally, Kit and Lori Sue were reportedly fighting often in the months leading up to Kit's disappearance. A Facebook page dedicated to spreading awareness about Kit's disappearance states that Kit contemplated moving back in with their adoptive family after arguments with Lori Sue, but Lori Sue always convinced them to stay. 

Suddenly, in November 2021, Kit fell out-of-touch with their family and friends. A wellness check was conducted, but the Omak PD officers who completed the check fell short in many ways. No body camera footage was recorded, and the officers left without seeing Kit in person. Lori Sue told police that Kit was okay and that they had blocked their adoptive family because they were abusive towards them. The police apparently accepted this story, and no missing persons was filed.

Finally, in April 2022, Kit's missing persons case was finally opened. At that time, Lori Sue reportedly told police that Kit ran off with a significant other. However, Kit's loved ones do not believe Lori Sue's story. A lot of online speculation points to Lori Sue knowing what happened to Kit, but at this time, she has not been charged with anything related to their disappearance.

Kit remains missing today. Their loved ones are searching for answers. There is a monetary reward available for anyone who can lead to Kit's whereabouts. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the Omak PD at 509-826-0383.

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Sources:

Charley Project
The Cooper Point Journal
Finding Kit
Oregon Public Broadcasting
Yakima Herald

The Murder of Jenna Franks

Source: FBI.gov

On February 24th, 2021, street division workers in Jacksonville, North Carolina were clearing debris in a wooded area near Ellis Boulevard and White Street when they found something unexpected: a human body. Police responded to the scene, and it was quickly determined that a murder had taken place. The victim was subsequently identified as 34-year-old Jenna Franks.

Shortly after news broke about her murder, it was announced that the case was being investigated as a possible hate crime. Jenna was a transgender woman and had active involvement with the Onslow County LGBTQ+ Community Center. Her death has been a devastating loss for both Jenna's loved ones and members of the community. 

Authorities initially did not reveal many details about Jenna's death; only that she had been murdered, and that the FBI was assisting with the investigation. Months later, in June 2021, the results of Jenna's autopsy were revealed. The report states that she was "stabbed multiple times in the neck and lower half of her body." 

The FBI has also revealed that they believe Jenna "willingly met up with whoever is responsible for her death, not knowing her life would end." Investigators also believe it is likely that the killer is familiar with the area where Jenna's body was found. On the three-year anniversary of Jenna's murder, a detective told reporters that it's possible that the killer "may continue to live or work in the community."

Investigators ask that anyone who knew Jenna or might have information about her murder to come forward. A monetary reward is available in exchange for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of Jenna's killer(s). If you have any information that could help the investigation, please submit a tip. 

 

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Sources:
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Jacksonville Daily News
Human Rights Campaign
News & Observer
WNCT, (2)

The Disappearance of Matthew Kalange

Source: nbcmontana.com

Matthew Kalange has been missing since August 16th, 2021. 

The then-25-year-old vanished after his car ran out of gas on Highway 200 in Montana. Matthew's car was later found abandoned on the eastbound side of the highway near Ovando. A note found was on the windshield that read, "RAN OUT OF GAS, PLEASE DO NOT TOW! God Bless, Matt."

Source: nbcmontana.com

Matthew has never been seen or heard from again. Various reports state that he may have tried to walk to Ovando, Lincoln or Helmville. Matthew did not have a wallet or cell phone with him at the time of his disappearance. This has inevitably made it even more difficult to track his movement after he ran out of gas. 

Shortly after Matthew's disappearance, it was reported that "law enforcement is investigating several different possible scenarios" about what might have caused his disappearance. Years have passed since this report, and it is unknown if investigators have narrowed down to a prominent theory. 

There has otherwise been very little reporting on Matthew's disappearance. He remains missing today. If you have any information that could lead to Matthew's whereabouts, please contact the Missoula Police Department at 406-552-6300 or the Powell County Sheriff at 406-846-2711.

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Sources:
Blackfoot Valley Dispatch
Charley Project
NamUs
NBC Montana

The Disappearance of Cynthia Bah-Traore

 

Cynthia Bah-Traore has been missing since February 3rd, 2021. The then-39-year-old reportedly left her home in Crowley on the day of her disappearance and never returned. One of her sons later called his grandmother that evening and said Cynthia had not returned home from running errands. Cynthia's mother subsequently contacted authorities. 

Throughout the investigation, it was revealed that Cynthia was spotted by surveillance cameras at a Shell gas station in Grandview, Texas - over 25 miles away from Crowley - on the evening of her disappearance. Reports state that Cynthia left the gas station driving her blue Mazada CX-5 shortly after 10:30 PM. This is the last known confirmed sighting of Cynthia; she has never been seen or heard from again. 

Cynthia Bah-Traore's vehicle on the Shell station surveillance footage. (source: cbsnews)

It is very unlikely that Cynthia vanished on her own accord. She's described as a loving mother who would never voluntarily leave behind her two sons. Additionally, there are many other suspicious circumstances surrounding her disappearance have led to even more questions Cynthia's case. 

Questions about Grandview.

As previously noted, Cynthia's sons believed their mother had left their home in Crowley to run errands on the day of her disappearance. Did these errands lead Cynthia over 25 miles away to Grandview? Or was it something or someone else?

Investigators have not revealed any information related to these questions. It's unknown if Cynthia has any prior ties to Grandview. The only known connection between Cynthia and that area is the fact that the last known sighting of her occurred at the Shell gas station 1000 block of E. Criner Street.

Cynthia's cell phone and car.

Cynthia's cell phone was later found at the Shell station. Due to this, investigators were unable to use cell phone records to track where Cynthia traveled after leaving the gas station. It is unknown if investigators have found any other relevant information on the phone and/or the records. 

On February 11th, 2021 - a little over a week after her disappearance - Cynthia's car was found abandoned on Interstate 35 at mile marker 335 in Waco, Texas. There was no sign of Cynthia herself on the scene. The vehicle remained in that spot for a few days before it was towed to an impound lot on February 15th, 2021.

The car being found in this location is suspicious for several reasons. Waco is located approximately 55 miles away from the gas station in Grandview. It's approximately 80 miles from Cynthia's home in Crowley. Due to this, it seems very unlikely that Cynthia voluntarily traveled that far away, at that time of night, for errands or any other reason - especially since her two sons were waiting for her at home. 

With all this in mind, it can be easily theorized that it was not actually Cynthia who parked the car in that spot. However, there does not appear to be any publicly known surveillance footage of the car being parked on the Interstate - therefore it's unknown if Cynthia was a driver or passenger in the car prior to it being abandoned in that area. 

Cynthia's mother Tambra Alvoid has indicated that she does not believe Cynthia herself drove the car to Waco. Alvoid told reporters, "Whoever parked her car knows where Cynthia is." 

Crowley P.D. investigation.

The investigation into Cynthia's disappearance hypothetically spans three different investigative jurisdictions: Crowley, where Cynthia lived; Grandview, where she was last seen; and Waco, where her car was found. Investigators in Crowley were ultimately put in charge of the case. 

The Crowley Police have appealed to locals for assistance with finding Cynthia. However, since she was last seen in Grandview, there's a question of whether or not this appeal would have been more effective if it had been made to Grandview locals. If Cynthia was spotted by anyone at all after leaving the gas station, it seems more likely that it would have occurred in Grandview rather than Crowley.

In fact, it does not seem likely that Cynthia returned to Crowley at all after leaving the gas station. Additionally, there are several miles between Grandview and Waco, where Cynthia's car was found - leaving potential for someone else to have seen Cynthia and/or her car between those two locations. At this time, though, it appears nobody has come forward. 

Where the case stands today. 

Cynthia remains missing today. Her loved ones believe she met with foul play. Her mother has expressed that the Crowley Police have limited time and resources, which indicates a lack of progress in the investigation into Cynthia's disappearance. A GoFundMe page is up in hopes of raising money for a private investigator for the case. 

If you have any information that could lead to Cynthia's whereabouts, please contact authorities at 817-297-2276.

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Sources:
CBS News
Charley Project
Crime Online
NBC 5 Dallas Fort-Worth
Newsbreak

The Disappearance of Lina Sardar Khil

Source: Crime Online

Lina Sardar Khil was only 3 years old when she went missing on December 20th, 2021. The little girl lived with her family in San Antonio, Texas at the time of her disappearance. On the evening she vanished, Lina went outside to play with other neighborhood children at a playground at her family's apartment complex around 5:30 PM. Lina's mother turned away for a few minutes, and when she looked back, Lina was gone. She has never been seen or heard from again.

Lina's family is originally from Afghanistan. When Lina was a baby, the family moved to the United States and settled into an Afghan refugee community in San Antonio. The families living in that community all know each other and look after one another. For this reason, Lina's mother felt it was safe for her to turn her back momentarily while Lina played with other neighborhood children. Unfortunately, Lina seemingly vanished within that short amount of time.

When Lina's mother first realized that Lina was no longer at the playground, she went door-to-door throughout the community to see if anyone had seen her daughter. Lina's parents then turned to the leader of their Afghan community to see if he could help. The leader advised Lina's parents to call the police - which they finally did around 7:30 PM that evening. 

Thorough searches were conducted in the family's community and in surrounding areas. Dive teams were sent into a nearby creek. No sign of Lina was found. Lina's family members cooperated with the investigation and have not been labeled as persons of interest. No other persons of interest have been publicly identified.

Months before Lina vanished, her family brought her on a trip to their hometown in Afghanistan. While there, Lina and her mother happened to be just feet away from a suicide bombing that killed hundreds of people. Lina and her mother survived the attack and returned to San Antonio. The family - much like many other families - sought refuge and safety in the United States. They never imagined that the most traumatizing event of their lives would occur while living in Texas. 

Authorities have been baffled by Lina's disappearance. The FBI is now involved in the search. If you have any information that could lead to Lina's whereabouts, please submit a tip.

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Sources:
ABC News
Charley Project
Crime Online
My San Antonio
New York Times

The Disappearance of Kandis Harris

Image source: Bring Kandis Home (Facebook)

Kandis Rose Harris has been missing since July 2021. The then-17-year-vanished in Salt Lake City, Utah. At the time of her disappearance, Kandis was enrolled in an inpatient substance abuse program at a facility called the Odyssey House. On July 15th, 2021, Kandis hopped the fence of Odyssey House and never returned. Her loved ones have never seen or heard from her again. 

Kandis had been a ward of the state of Utah for about a year before she vanished. She had run away from multiple treatment centers - including the Odyssey House - several times throughout that year. However, Kandis was always eventually located and sent back. 

After leaving Odyssey House during July 2021, Kandis stayed active on social media for four days before all of her online activity ceased. At that point, fears for her safety increased. It was believed that Kandis was using a burner phone/device to access social media during this time, as she was not allowed to have a phone while at Odyssey House. The phone she had prior to going to Odyssey House yielded no clues to her whereabouts. 

There have been a few possible sightings of Kandis around Salt Lake, but none of them have been confirmed. Early into the investigation, authorities explored the possibility that Kandis fell victim to human trafficking - as she had been trafficked before in the past. It's unclear if this is still a prominent theory in the case.

Years have passed, and Kandis still remains missing. The Salt Lake City Police Department is investigating. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the department at 801-799-3000.
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Sources:
ABC 4 News
Bring Kandis Home on Facebook
Charley Project

DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this post is to spread awareness about this case. The information provided in this post is information that was found through various sources on the internet. If any information on this post is inaccurate, please contact the author via email at truecasefiles@gmail.com or through Instagram and the errors can be corrected. Additionally, if you have any information that could improve the accuracy or quality of this post, please contact the author. 

The Disappearance and Murder of Audreona Barnes

 

Audreona Barnes vanished in Cleveland, Ohio on July 30th, 2021. The 18-year-old had aspirations of joining the Army, and on the day of her disappearance, she met up with US Army Recruiters. After their meeting, the recruiters dropped Audreona off at her boyfriend’s apartment in Cleveland. Her family members expected her home that evening, but she never returned home. Audreona’s family members later reported her missing.

Throughout the investigation, police spoke with Audreona’s boyfriend Bennie Washington. Washington is over 20 years older than Audreona, and he was the last known person to have seen her before she vanished. Initially, police did not find any reason to suspect Washington, and it appears that his home was not searched.

Washington was evicted from his residence on March 11th, 2022. Six days later, an employee from a cleaning company was sent to the residence. While clearing out the apartment’s balcony, the employee found the body of a female hidden under a pile of clothes. Police were called, and the body was eventually identified as that of Audreona Barnes. She died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Police then began looking for Washington. At some point, police spotted him in a nearby neighborhood, but he ran from the officers and was able to evade arrest. However, he was finally found on March 21, 2022, and charged with Audreona’s murder. 

source:oxygen.com

After his arrest, police announced that they believed Washington shot and killed Audreona before hiding her body outside under the clothes to hasten decomposition. Audreona’s body had been there for months, but apparently no outsiders reported a foul smell or anything else suspicious.

This arrest was not the first time Washington has been in trouble with the law. In 2019, he was accused of raping a 3-year-old girl. In 2010, he reportedly shot and wounded a woman over a $40 cocaine debt. Washington was sentenced to 7 years for that shooting. 

In May of 2023, Washington went to trial for Audreona's murder. He was ultimately found guilty. Audreona's mother Akua Avegnon gave a victim impact statement during Washington's sentencing hearing. Avegnon called Washington out during her statement, saying that he feigned concern over Audreona's whereabouts while knowing she had already been murdered by him. Avegnon also stated that Audreona was pregnant with Washington's baby, and he also feigned concern over their unborn child. 

Washington was sentenced to 38 years in prison. He remains incarcerated today.

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Sources:
Cleveland 19 News
Law & Crime
New York Post
Oxygen

The Disappearance of Katrina Kinsey

image source

Katrina Kinsey has been missing since August 14th, 2021. The then-18-year-old was last seen at her family's home in Jackson, Mississippi. Katrina's father told authorities that he saw his daughter right before he left for an overnight work shift. When he returned home the following morning, Katrina was gone. She has never been seen or heard from again.

There are very few details available in Katrina's case. It appears that the local news has had minimal - if any - reporting about her disappearance. Katrina's social media accounts do not seem to have any pertinent information that would help solve the case. 

It is unknown is Katrina left on her own accord or if any of her personal items were missing from the home. The details of her life around the time of her disappearance remain unknown as well. What is known is that Katrina has not been seen since August of 2021 - and her wellbeing is not accounted for. 

The Jackson Police Department is tasked with solving Katrina's case. If you have any information that could lead to her whereabouts, please contact authorities at 601-960-1234.

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Sources:
Charley Project
Our Black Girls
Uncovered

The Murder of Tristyn Bailey

 

Tristyn Bailey was brutally murdered during the early morning hours of May 9th, 2021. The young girl was only 13-years-old. Shortly after her body was found, a 14-year-old named Aiden Fucci was charged as an adult with Tristyn's murder in the first degree.

Tristyn was a 7th grader at a Patriot Oaks Academy in St. Augustine, Florida. She was a cheerleader and beloved member of the community. While it does not appear that Tristyn and Aiden Fucci ran in the same social circles, they still knew each other. Aiden also attended Patriot Oaks Academy, and he and Tristyn lived in the same neighborhood in St. Johns County. 

On the morning of May 9th, Tristyn's family members awoke and quickly realized that Tristyn was not anywhere inside the house. By 10 AM, Tristyn's parents called 911 to report her missing. Her parents told the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office that they had last seen her around midnight. However, after speaking with various other teens in the neighborhood, the Sheriff's Office learned that Tristyn was seen around 1:15 AM at the Durbin Amenity Center--which is within walking distance from her house.

Investigators looked at surveillance cameras in the neighborhood, and ultimately found footage of two people matching the descriptions of Tristyn Bailey and Aiden Fucci walking together on Saddlestone Drive at 1:45 AM. Around 3:30 AM, the same surveillance camera captured only one person - presumably Aiden - walking back in the other direction. 

A search for Tristyn in the surrounding area was conducted. Around 6 PM, a searcher found a body in a wooded area near a retention pond, located just east of Saddlestone Drive. Shortly thereafter, the body was identified as that of Tristyn Bailey. She had been stabbed numerous times. 

Investigators questioned Aiden Fucci very early into the investigation. He reportedly made many conflicting statements. At some point, Aiden was into the back of a police car. While in the vehicle, he posted a selfie to Snapchat with the caption, "Hey guys has inybody (sic) seen Tristyn lately." It's unclear if this selfie was taken before or after his arrest. Aiden was finally arrested around 3:30 AM on May 10th, after police found various items and pieces of clothing covered in blood in his bedroom. 

Members of the community were shocked not only by Tristyn's violent death, but also by the fact that another child in the community was being charged with her murder. Many were also shocked by Aiden's seemingly insensitive Snapchat that he posted regarding Tristyn's disappearance. In the days and weeks that followed Aiden's arrest, many more appalling details about the case were revealed.

--Continued from Tumblr post:

Aiden was initially charged with second-degree murder. Following his arrest, many social media posts surfaced from other teens who claimed to be involved in the crime. These posts also seemingly supported Aiden and contained disparaging messages about Tristyn. Investigators looked into these Instagram posts and accounts, but have maintained that Aiden was the only one who participated in the act of murdering Tristyn. 

Weeks later his arrest, Aiden's charges were upgraded to first-degree murder. At this time, prosecutors decided to try Aiden as an adult as well.  It was then revealed that Aiden's friends had told investigators that Aiden has expressed that he wanted to kill someone. While he did not name Tristyn or any other specific target, Aiden did reportedly tell friends that he wanted to kill someone by bringing them into the woods and stabbing them. It appears that Aiden did exactly this to Tristyn. The stabbing was also particularly brutal. Tristyn had been stabbed over 114 times. 49 of her wounds were defensive wounds--indicating that she had fought for her life. 

While Aiden has not confessed to stabbing Tristyn, he did reportedly admit that he was with her on the night of her murder. He reportedly told police that he and Tristyn left a mutual friend's house together and got into an argument shortly thereafter. Aiden also admitted that he shoved her to the ground. Since he has already made numerous conflicting statements, it is unclear if investigators believe this version of events--however they are certain that he is Tristyn's killer. 

In early June 2021, Aiden's mother Crystal Lane Smith was arrested and charged with tampering with evidence in this case. She's accused of scrubbing the jeans Aiden wore on the night of Tristyn's murder in their sink. Forensic testing on the sink revealed that there were traces of blood in the drain. Crystal has been released on bail, however Aiden remains in custody. Their charges are pending. 

UPDATE (March 2023): 

In February of 2023, Aiden Fucci pleaded guilty to the murder of Tristyn Bailey.

Aiden’s trial was due to begin on February 6th, but he ultimately decided to enter a plea of guilty – voiding the need for a trial altogether. There was reportedly not a plea deal made with the prosecution.

After pleading guilty, Aiden made a statement of apology to the Bailey family. In March of 2023, he was sentenced to life in prison.

The Disappearance of Lopaz Richardson

image source: 'Help Bring Lopaz Home' on Facebook

Lopaz Richardson has been missing since July of 2021. The then-32-year-old lived in Rosenberg, Texas at the time of his disappearance. Lopaz vanished under incredibly suspicious circumstances, and the mystery of what happened to him still remains unsolved.

The last time any of Lopaz's loved ones saw him was on July 5th, 2021. That evening, Lopaz dropped his daughter off at her mother's home in Spring, Texas. Two days later, Lopaz spoke with relatives on the phone. After that, he seemingly vanished into thin air. He has never been seen or heard from again. 

Lopaz's ex-wife reported him missing on July 8th. She was immediately concerned about his safety, as he had made some troubling statements before his disappearance. Lopaz reportedly told his ex-wife that someone was after him; he "disrespected the wrong person" and would not have a chance to apologize.

The day after Lopaz was reported missing, police in Howe, Texas were notified about a white Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck that was spotted in a ravine near some train tracks. Days later, it was confirmed that the car was registered to Lopaz. It seemed odd that Lopaz's vehicle would be found in Howe - as it is an approximate 5-hour drive away from his home in Rosenberg. His loved ones are unable to think of any reason for him to travel to that location. It also seemed unlikely that Lopaz would voluntarily abandon his car in such a spot. 

Despite all of this, Lopaz's ex-wife said she was told by police that there was no evidence of foul play at the scene, nor were any items of interest found inside the truck. However, inventory was not taken on the truck until over a month later. It was then discovered that many items were inside the car - including a digital camera, a GoPro camera, and Lopaz's wallet, which contained his driver's license and credit card. Additionally, a more thorough search of the scene where the car was found turned up a pair of Lopaz's shoes - which had been stuck in the mud.

These findings appear to be the last known physical trace of Lopaz. Even so, it's unclear if Lopaz himself is the one who drove his truck to that location. There are many unanswered questions regarding his disappearance as well. To this day, no suspects or persons of interest have been publicly announced. However, there were several things going on in Lopaz's life that have led to a few theories. 

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What happened to Lopaz?

As previously noted, Lopaz had made some troubling comments to his ex-wife prior to his disappearance. More specifically, his ex-wife said that he told her, “I got involved with the wrong people. I got into this for business. I disrespected the wrong person and I can’t get a chance to apologize.”

If these statements from Lopaz are true, it seems plausible that these "wrong people" are involved in his disappearance. But who are they, and how did Lopaz get involved with them? A look into his life around the time of his disappearance may hold the answers.

A father, an author, and a business owner.

By all accounts, it appears that Lopaz was a well-rounded individual. He was co-parenting with his ex-wife and enjoyed being a father. Although Lopaz and his ex-wife were no longer together, they seemingly still got along and spoke to each other frequently. 

Lopaz's ex-wife describes him as an ambitious person. In 2019, he published his own novel titled "HellBint". Lopaz also opened a tattoo shop in Rosenberg called Dear Life Tattoos. 

Lopaz's shop was reportedly doing well during 2021. Prior to his disappearance, Lopaz was in the process of doing minor updates and he had also just updated his inventory. 

AllSports Riders MC.

Lopaz was also a member of a motorcycle club called AllSports Riders MC. He grew close with his fellow members and referred to them as brothers - which is common amongst biker gangs. There's no direct evidence that Lopaz was fearful of anyone in the club prior to his disappearance - but there are some aspects that are worth looking into. This will be addressed again in more in-depth below.

Before delving into more with the motorcycle club or any other potential theories, it's important to take a look at some other events surrounding Lopaz's disappearance.

July 5th - July 7th, 2021.

As mentioned before, Lopaz was last seen by his loved ones on July 5th, 2021 - after he dropped off his daughter back at her mother/his ex-wife's house. Then, on July 7th, Lopaz spoke with his relatives on the phone for the last time. Amongst those phone calls was a call to his ex-wife and their daughter. During that conversation, Lopaz apologized to his daughter but was otherwise vague. 

It's unclear what, exactly, he was apologizing about, but his ex-wife believes it was in conjunction with Lopaz's previous comments that he had disrespected the wrong person.

July 8th, 2021.

It appears that Lopaz fell completely out-of-touch by July 8th. His ex-wife reported him missing that same day. Meanwhile, both investigators and loved ones later learned that Lopaz's debit card was used at a R&R truck stop in Henryetta, Oklahoma that day. Henryetta is an approximate 7-hour drive away from Lopaz's home in Rosenberg, and it is an approximate 2-hour drive away from the location where his car was found in Howe.

Investigators have yet to reveal what, exactly, was charged to Lopaz's credit card at the truck stop. Investigators also said that they reviewed surveillance footage of the truck stop and did not spot Lopaz at any point on July 8th. So, the question still remains: who used Lopaz's credit card, and why?

July 9th, 2021.

Lopaz's car was found in a ravine in Howe near the train tracks shortly before 1:00 PM. At the time, authorities in Howe were unaware that the truck was registered to a missing person from Rosenberg.

image source: 'Help Bring Lopaz Home' on Facebook

The vehicle being found in this location is odd for several reasons. For starters, it appears that some sort of accident occurred for it to get stuck in the ravine. Additionally, as previously mentioned, the car was found approximately 5 hours away from Rosenberg. It is unknown if Lopaz had any reason to travel there; and it's also unknown if Lopaz himself is the one who drove the car to that spot. 

Since Lopaz's credit card was used in Henryetta just a day earlier, it's easy to speculate that whoever drove the truck to Howe was also the person who used the credit card. However, this has yet to be confirmed.

July 13th - July 16th, 2021.

On July 13th, authorities confirmed that the truck was, in fact, registered to Lopaz. It was determined that a tow truck would need to drive over the train tracks to retrieve the vehicle. Over the next few days, law enforcement contacted several different agencies to assist with the removal of the vehicle. Since it was found near the train tracks, authorities had to reach out to the Dallas-Garland Railroad company - as they owned the tracks in that location. The company declined to assist.

On July 16th, a towing company called Texoma Auto Care was brought to the scene. Once again, the track inspector from Dallas-Garland declined to give consent for the towing company to drive over the train tracks and tow the vehicle.

July 16th - August 11th, 2021: The truck remains in place.

Police did not receive consent to access the truck via railroad tracks. As such, Lopaz's truck remained stuck in that spot until August 11th, 2021. That day, authorities contacted a property owner adjacent to the railroad tracks. The property owner finally granted consent for the truck to be removed. Texoma Auto Care then returned to the scene and towed the truck to their auto shop. 

In total, the car sat there for 35 days - a whole month after it was first spotted. This left plenty of time for the scene of the crash to be disturbed by weather, wildlife, and even other people. In fact, Lopaz's ex-wife stated that members from Lopaz's motorcycle club visited the scene of the crash on August 7th. It's unclear how Lopaz's ex-wife learned about this, but it was definitely a cause for concern. 

Inventory on the truck.

Lopaz's truck was finally analyzed in-depth after it was taken to the auto shop. While Lopaz's ex-wife was originally told that nothing significant was found in the car, she later learned that was false when it was revealed that several items were found. As previously mentioned, Lopaz's wallet, GoPro camera, and digital camera were all found inside the truck. The memory cards in both the GoPro and the digital camera had been wiped completely clean.

Lopaz's ex-wife stated that she went to Howe to take a look at the car herself, and she noticed that one of Lopaz's two cell phones was inside the vehicle as well. According to his ex-wife, the cell phone wasn't wiped completely clean, but it was noted that several texts, calls, pictures, and videos had been deleted. It appears that Lopaz's other cell phone was never found. 

A pair of Lopaz's sneakers were found in the mud near the vehicle as well. It is unknown if they were planted there or not.

It also seems quite odd that police initially told Lopaz's ex-wife that there was no sign of foul play - even after the car was discovered abandoned. The police also told her that no items of interest were in the car, however it appears that they said that before they were able to fully process the vehicle. 

Theories.

As of today, no suspects or persons of interest have ever been publicly announced in Lopaz's case. The odd circumstances surrounding his disappearance have led to a few different theories. 

Let's take a look at some of the happenings that could play a role:

Lopaz's statement that someone was "after him". Lopaz told his ex-wife that he had disrespected the wrong person and would not have a chance to apologize. He also mentioned that he got involved with this person "for business". It's unclear exactly what business he was talking about. 

Had he gotten involved in a side business that was potentially dangerous? Or is he referring to his tattoo business? Did he owe money to someone? All of these questions remain unanswered for now, but it's possible that these questions are the key to solving Lopaz's disappearance.

The motorcycle club. Lopaz was a dedicated member of the AllSports Riders MC. It's unknown if the biker gang plays a role in his disappearance, but it's certainly a possibility. Lopaz's ex-wife mentioned that two members of the biker gang traveled to Howe on August 7th - while Lopaz's car was still stuck in the ravine. She did not elaborate on why, exactly, they went to the scene, but they could have planted evidence, removed evidence, or contaminated the area. 

The fact that two members of the biker gang visited the scene is not entirely suspicious on its own - as it's possible that they were just curious about Lopaz's disappearance and wanted to see if they could find any evidence of their own. However, Lopaz's ex-wife told reporters of two other incidents with members of the motorcycle club that raise some suspicions. 

One such event occurred on July 3rd, 2021 - just days before Lopaz's disappearance. That day, Lopaz held an event at his tattoo shop, and several members of the motorcycle club attended. At some point during the gathering, a member of the club called Lopaz's ex-wife and said that Lopaz had kicked him out of the event. There is very little other information about this incident - but it seems noteworthy since it happened very shortly before Lopaz vanished. 

The other incidents involve a few members of the motorcycle club breaking into Lopaz's apartment. The exact dates of these occurrences are unknown, but according to Lopaz's ex-wife, it happened twice, and they were caught on camera each time. The members of the club took their own bikes and Lopaz's bike from his apartment. Lopaz was reportedly fixing/making additions to their bikes, which is why he had them at his residence. 

After the members of the club broke into the apartment, they reportedly told Lopaz's ex-wife that they took his bike and would give it back to him when he returned. It's unknown if anything else of interest was taken from the apartment. Nobody ever faced any charges for breaking in.

Nobody in the motorcycle club has ever been labeled as a suspect.

The debit card usage.  As noted before, Lopaz's debit card was used in Henryetta, Oklahoma on July 8th. Who, exactly, used the card is unknown but the police said that they did not see any surveillance footage of Lopaz at the truck stop where it was used.

Again, this on its own is not incredibly suspicious, as debit card theft is not uncommon. However, the fact that it happened after Lopaz's disappearance makes it seem far more sinister. The location in which it was used is odd as well - as it's hours away from where Lopaz was last seen and where his car was found.

Where the case stands today.

Lopaz remains missing today. His loved ones have not given up hope in finding answers. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the Rosenberg Police at 832-595-3700.

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Sources:
Charley Project
Fox 7 Austin
Help Bring Lopaz Home
Medium